Center filler and draft gear stop



Sept. 25, 1951 T. A. coLLlsoN CENTER FILLER AND DRAFT GEAR STOP 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 25, 1945- Sept. 25,v 1951 T. A. coLLlsoN CENTER FILLER AND DRF T GEAHSTOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 25', 1945 IL kaf Zaren/(or: VTHOMAS A. CQLLISON ,/y IF Patented Sept. 25, 1951` A Y l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y CENTER FILLER AND DRAFT GEAR STOP Thomas A. Collison, Mount Vernon, Ill. Y Application August 25, 1945, Serial No. 612,660

' 1i claims. (ci. 21e-57) My invention relates to center llers for centhat the rigid tolerances now required can be obter sills of railway cars, and rear draft gear stops tained without machining, whereas in the case of therefor. cast center sill filler members, even under the. Y In making center ller members which serve as best developed shop practices, the most prac.

such Welded structure have required the use of sections or plates, the holes can be punched in many small parts and specially shaped pieces, l multiple with' accuracy. Which had to be either forged or otherwiserformed Another great advantage to my invention is in a relatively expensive manner, and a rather that bymaking the center sill ller member and My invention more particularly comprises a foi structural members at a smaller or at least no pair of flanged side plate members that are adaptadditional cost Thus any part that would have ed to be secured to the center sill members and hard usage or would be subJected to a particular to withstand the blows to which said stop mem- *l welded type of construction, and a much better bers are subJected which side plate members are structure having much longer life results connected by means of a transverse bracing niem- Other obiects and advantages of my invention ber including a plate-like member having a bracwill appear aS the deSCIlDlOIl 0f the dlaWlngS ing member welded thereto. which bracing memproceeds I desire to have it understood however ber is generally H-shaped in vertical and horix that I d0 not intend t0 limit myself t0 the pal-l v other rolled shapes to build up the center siii -Fig. I?, of my improved center sill filler member.-

thickness of the parts can be held toa minimum, members associated therewith.

which is not possible with castings, these varying Fig. 2 is a view showing one of the side plate considerably'over and under the proportions of members in elevation, portions of the iiller meni-v the parts desired in the diierent castings, resultv ber and center sill being shown in section, the, ing in considerable loss of castings or undesirable view being taken substantially on the line 2 2 increase in weight. Jigs can be provided for holdot Fig. 1. v ing the various elements of my welded construc- Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the tion in placeA while the center sill ller member center sill, showing the iiller member in end nlnand brace is in the process of construction so ss vatinh o@ 'HM-e `for -the'king pin,

taken on Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section of a further modification, and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of a modification of the mounting of the stop plate on the center sill.

IReferring `in Vdetail to th drawings, vmy improved iiller member and brace is shown as being applied between a `pair of center sill members I I. which are ordinarily made fzshapedin cross section. A pair of side plates I2 :areprovidedfor securement to the center sill rmembers I I either'by welding or riveting, as may bepreferred. Theside plates I2 are provided with upper inwardly directed vflanges I'3 and lower inwardly directed flanges I4. The flanges I4 are connected by means fof a transversely extending plate-like member I5, which may be recessed at the opposite vtransverse edges thereof,ras indicated at 24, to reduce the weight thereof and provide enlargements IE at opposite sides of said vplate-like mem ber that are engaged with the lower vfaces of the lowerflanges I4 and welded to said flanges. A pair of ysimilar butoppositely directed Ymembers I1 Vare provided, which extend 'perpendicularly vto the vplate-like member lI5 andhave a pair kof parallel legs I8 'extending .perpendicularly to the vertical walls -of the-side plates SI2 connected fby means of a'tran'sverse .web portion I9. The bot.- tom edges of the web portions I9 and the legs I8 arewelded to the plate-like member I15 andthe endedges of saidlegs I8 are welded to the 'vertical walls of the plate-#like members I2.

The legs I8 are taller than the webportions I9, aswill be obvious fromFigs.2, 4 and '1., each-having a tapering extension2,fthe top edge 2I of.

which is welded to the flange leon-the side plate I'2 which the same engages. The 'flanges I9 areof substantially uniform widthfrom `end l:to end-of the-side plates I2, while the'flanges I4 have the forward ends thereof of substantially 'the same width as the-flanges I3,fbutr4 are provided withinclined edges 22 to provide a narrower flange pore tion-'23 extending tothe rear end `-vedges of -said anges. ASaid narrower flange portions -23 are provided with notches 25 rfor receivingfthe legs I-8 of the channel members I1, vsaidlegs .I-8 being, preferably, welded to the flanges Il Aat said notches 25.

A transversely extending bracingmeans thus provided between the side'plate members I2 made up -of-the plate-like member I5 and the paired members I1, the two members I1 together forming an `H-shaped Ibrace. vThe web portions I9 of saldmembers I1 are provided with socket forming portions 26 pressed or otherwise formed therein, the 'two portions26 of thetwo members I'11`form ing a socket providing a cylindrical passage'-21 which is provided in the usual manner, valso extending through the bolster, which 4is-of vthe usual construction. -as indicated generally at 28. Preferably, a reinforcing member 60 is provided extending between the legs I8 from the the upper which is an integral flange on the web portion I9 to the side plates I2 at end of the socket forming portions 26, web portion I9 and socket portions 26, and is welded at the top or bottom side thereof to legs I8 and side plates I2, thus further reinforcing the transverse bracing means and the socket for the king pin. A

brace `is thus provided between the sideiplates that is H -shaped in The transverse Lcular opening 29 therein aligning with the cylindrical passage 21 for therethrough. face `on opposite-sides of the tion.

both vertical Vand horizontal secbracing plate I5 has a cirpassage of the king pin The web portions I9 lie face to socket forming portions 26 and are welded to each other, as indicated Thus the H-shaped members that form the bracing members together with the plate-like member I5, also serve as socket forming means for =the king pin.

The plate-like members ='I2 -have reduced :rear

end portions 3l extends nearly vertical is and an inturned flange .32 that provided along the `edge portion of theplate-flike member I2 below thereduced extension and tion 23 of reduced portions -2'3 of the flanges32 at made :continuous or extends to the reduced porthe 'bottom 'marginal flange M. .The flanges I4 and Vthe their .points of engagement may ibe sired, toLadd to the rigidityLofithegplate-likermembers I2 plate-like rIhe reduced lend Lportions 3I Yof `the members have .portionsg133 that arefinterminate in transversely extendingjiportions M'that. align with each other andr butt up vagainst .each otherinzedgeito edge engagement,

welded to tom edges .the same being, preferably,

each .other I'at their points of engage. ment. The reduced portions 3l have inclinedfbot.- .that'a're provided with marginal flanges `flanges ;.32 `and which have upturned rear ends 36 that abut the portions 34 andfare, preferably,

welded thereto.

The depending wall` portions 1'34are verylshort, as will `be obvious from -fF-ig. -l2, .and :are effect,

downward extensions on .the

flanges 1IF3, .which hav-e inclined portions 31 #corresponding .to :the

inclinedlp 38 directe ortions 3'3ofthesideplates and portions d toward eachother land engaging edge to edge, which are. preferably, welded to each other at their Hpoints other.

.of engagement with -each The iside 'plates ft2 have Iinwardly directed angeslS'B tothe flanges K stop `plates Ml ``welded thereto.

rat'tl'ieirforwardlends, which arewelded 1H and -I3, and Vhave t.the fdraft v'gear Said `stopfplates` are further.' reinforce'c'lbylmeans of "channel members .1I ,which Aare .provided Iwith parallel legs 42, the yeiitremitie's of which farle weldedtolthe vertlcal walls of the-side plateslIZ. The=channel2mem bers extendflengthwise ofthe theend edgessof thereof in side plates20 .with the legs V.and the web portions engagement, respectively,

plates f4 I)v andthe transverse -Vmei/fibers f,

the flanges 39 being notchedat Mito receive the.

channel membersALiandsaidlegs and iweb portions beng welded to theplates 14|), flanges ..39

and 'the Abracingrh'erriberf therewith. Thus Vadditional trans.` verse vbracing means is Lprovided vfor .the draftlsili between the plate-likelmembers I2,.-1and.the.- stops for the vdraf-t. gear fareilthoroughly braced as -to withstand any.. shocks .to subjected. y penings `46 may-'be provided lnfthe'web .2

.'wihich .the .same

welded to each other, if ".de-V

with

portions of the channel members 4I to provide access to the rivet openings 45 in case it is desired to rivet the combined center filler, bracing means and rear draft stop member to the center sills. Other rivet openings 41 may be provided at desired locations in the vertical walls of the side plates I2 and the flanges I3 for riveting the side plates to the vertical walls of the center sill members or the top flanges thereof.

Instead o-f using rivets, the ller member can be welded to the center sill members, in which case the openings may be of any desired shape and, preferably, much fewer in number and much larger than the openings 45 and 41. Welding the flller members to the center sill members is of great advantage, as it eliminates the large number of rivet openings necessary in a riveted construction, thus greatly strengthening the structure.- `In such case the edges of the flanges I3, 31 and 38 are welded to the center sill member II, and the member II is welded to the side plates I2 at the junction of the flanges I4, 32, 33 and 35 with the body portions thereof. Also the stop plates 40 narrower than the stop plates 40, are provided so that the edge portions of the side plates can be welded to the sill members Il, as shownin Fig. ll.

It will be noted that a center sill brace and filler memberV is provided that is reinforced where this is necessary, without providing any excess weight, and that the bracing means between the side plates, the side plates themselves, and the bracing means for the draft stops are all made of a channel-shaped character providing greater strength, and further when the parts are welded together a plurality of box-like bracing structures are provided, which give maximum strength for their weight. It will also be noted that the parts of the center sill ller member are few in number and are all of such a character thatthe same can be simply formed by forging or pressing operations, and that some of the parts can be made of ordinary stock material without performing any complex operations thereon, thus greatly reducing the cost of the filler member below that of previously known cast center sill filler members and welded members that req-uire large numbers of small parts of unusual form, adding to the cost of manufacture thereof.

While the reduced rearward extension on the filler member formed of the inclined portions 33 and the connecting portions 34 is sometimes preferred, a similar structure can be produced, which will be lighter in weight and simpler to form and will serve substantially the same purpose as the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, such structure being shown in Figs. 8 and 9 in which y the reduced extensions 3 I inclining toward each other are provided with the flanges 31' and 35', similar to the flanges 31 and 35 previously described, but these terminate short of the inwardly directed portions 34 and 38, and a transversely extending bracingv channel 43 is provided, which has a leg 49 extending perpendicularly to the web portion 50 thereof, and a'leg 5I extending at an oblique angle thereto, the leg 5I being welded to the flange 35', as will be obvious from Fig. 9, at the forward extremity 52 of the reduced portion 3|. The rearward end 52 is further re-y duced, as will be obvious from Fig. '9, to provide an offset portion having an offset flange 53 so that the upper leg 49 of the channel member 50 can be assembled with the ange 31', so that the top portions of the leg 49 and said flanges 31 are flush with each other, the leg 49 being. preferably,

beveled at 54 to make a good joint. Said leg 49 is Welded to the offset portion 53 at the beveled edge 54 thereof and also, preferably, at the points Where the reduced ends 53 of the legs 31' and the legs 49 lie face to face. Rivet openings 41 may be provided in the leg 49 of the channel member for riveting purposes, if this is desired.

Ordinarily the entire reduced extension 3I can be eliminated without any loss in strength, if such extension is not necessary for any other purpose, and in Fig. 10 the side plate I2' is shown as terminating at the inwardly directed flange 32 which corresponds in position substantially to the flange 32. A bracing member 55, which is shown as a bar but may be of any desired cross sectional shape, extending transversely between the flanges 32 adjacent the upper ends thereof near their intersection with the flanges I3 of the side plate I2 provides transverse bracing means between the side plates I2 rearwardly of the bracing means made up of the channel members I1 and cooperates `with the transverse bracing plate I5, which provides a transverse brace between the bottom portions of the side plates. Said transverse bracing member 55 is welded to the flange 32, as will be obvious from Fig. 10.

What I claim is:

1. A center sill filler comprising a pair of side plates having top and bottom flanges, and a bracing structure between said side plates, comprising a pair of members having legs extending between the flanges of said side plates and welded at their extremities to said side plates and having web portions connecting said legs welded to each other back to back to provide a substantially H- shaped bracing structure between said side plates, said web portions having oppositely bowed formations therein forming a king-pin socket, said side plates extending both forwardly and rearwardly from said bracing structure, the rearward extensions of said side plates converging and having a transversely extending anged bracing member welded thereto to connect the ends thereof.

2. A center sill filler comprising a pair of side plates having top and bottom flanges, and a bracing structure between said side plates, comprising a pair of members having legs extending between the flanges of said side plates and welded at their extremities to said side plates and having web portions connecting said legs welded to each other back to back to provide a substantially HV-shaped bracing structure between said side A plates, said web portions having oppositely bowed formations therein forming a king-pin socket, said side plates extending both forwardly and rearwardly from said bracing structure, the rearward extensions of said side plates tapering and converging and having a transversely extending flanged bracing member channel shaped in cross section welded thereto to connect the ends thereof.

3. A center sill filler comprising a pair of side plates having top and bottom flanges. and a bracing structure between said side plates, comprising a pair of members having legs extending between the flanges of said side plate and welded at their extremities to said side plates and having web portions connecting said legs welded to each other back to back to provide a substantially H- shaped bracing structure between said side plates, said web portions having oppositely bowed formations therein forming a king-pin socket, said side plates extending forwardly of saidbracing structure and each having a vertical flange adjacent tions shorter than saidlegs connecting the same,

said web portions extending 'longitudinally of A said bracing structure and being weldedback 'to back to provide a bearing structure wsubstantially H-shaped in horizontal section, said web portions having oppositely bowed formations therein, forming a king pin socket, and -a horizontahweb.

portion on eachof said'members-extendingl from the top of said vertical web portionbetween' each pair of said legs and welded thereto to provide'a transverse brace between said legs between the top and bottom'edges thereof, ywherebysaid bracing structure is H -shapedzin vertical longitudinal section on each sideof said verticalweb'portions.

5. A center sill filler. comprising arpair of 'side plates having inwardly'directed horizontal flanges extending longitudinally of said side plates at the top and bottom thereof, and afbracing structure between said side plates, comprising a pair of members each having a pair of vertical transversely extendinglegs, each leg having a portion extending from the'bo'ttom flange of one of said side plates to the top flange thereof and each welded at its topl and bottom edge to side top and bottom flange, respectively, each leg having an outer vertical edge welded toone of said side plates, and'V each of said'members having a vertical longitudinally extending web portion connecting said pair of legs at `the inner ends thereof, said web portions being welded to each .other back to back tok provide a bracing structure substantially H -shaped in horizontal section between said side plates, said web portions lhaving oppositely bowed portions therein forming a-king pin socket.

6. A center 'sill filler, comprising a pair of side plates having inwardlydirected horizontal flanges extending longitudinally of l said side plates at the top and bottom thereof, anda bracing structure between said side.plates,comprising a pair of members each having a pair of ver-tical trans` versely extending legs, each leg having -a portion extending from the bottom flange of-one of said side plates to the top flange thereof and each welded at its top and bottom edge tov -side top and bottom flange, respectively, each leg having an outer verticaledge welded to one of saidside plates, each of said sidexmernbers having a vertical longitudinally extending-web portion connecting said pair of legs at the inner ends thereof, said web portions being Yweldedv to -each other back to back to provide a bracing structuresubstantially H-shaped in horizontal section between said.sida-plates,r said-web portions having opposide plates-comprising fa pair of memberseach l having :a pair yof vertical rtransversely extending 1egs,'each ,-leg havingaportion extending from the bottom flange 'ofone of said sidewplates tov-the top flange thereof and each welded `at its top and `bottom-edge -to-said rtop and bottom flange,`

respectively, each leg having an outer vertical edge welded to Vone -of `said side plates, and each of -saidfmembers having a -vertical longitudinally extendingweb portion connecting said -pair o1'` legsat theinner ends 1thereof,-said` web portions being welded to eachother -back to backtozprovide a bracing structure substantially H-shaped)V inY horizontal section between -said sideplat.;

said web portions having=oppositely bowed Iportions therein forming a kingpin socket, said'side plates extending both forwardly and rearwardly from said ybracing-l structure, the rearward exten-f;

sions of said side ,plates converging and having inturnedf endsonsaid converging portions weldedv tol eachother, and a bracing structure at theforward ends of said plates comprising a transversely extending lportion spaced longitudinally from* said rst .mentionedbracing structure.

.8 A center sill illler,'comprising Va pair'of:V side plates having inwardly directed'horizontal flanges extending longitudinally of said side plates ,at theftop and bottom thereof throughout the length thereof, and a bracing structure between-said side plates, comprising a pair of members eachv having a pair of vertical transversely Vextending legs, each leg havingfa portion extending/'from the :bottom flange of "one of said sideplates 'to' the top flange lthereofand each welded at its `topY and bottom `edgeito .said 'top and bottom flange, respectively,: each ,leg having an outer vertical edgewelded ',tozone of saidrsideplates, and 'eachof said membershaving a ver-tical longitudinally extendingvweb portion connecting said pairJ-'o'f` legs at theinner ends thereof, -said web portions beingfweldedrto each other back to back to provide'a bracing structure substantially H-shaped in horizontalfsection between said side plates, lsaid web portions having roppositely bowed portions therein forming a king pin-socket, said side plates extending bothv forwardly and rearwardly'from saidbracing structure, transverse biasing means connecting `the :rearward extensions of said'side plates -in spaced relation tov said bracing strucf. turepsaid-sideplates'having vertical flanges'on the forward ends thereof, draft `gear 'stop `plates welded to said lvertical flanges and Yto said top -and r`bottom flanges, channel lshaped reinforcing sitely bowed portionstherein'forminga king pin members of uniform `height' having the forward ends thereof Aweldedto said `stop plates and the' legs 'thereofwelded Ato saidv sideplates substantially'midwayof the height thereof, and transverse bra'cingmeans connecting the Vforward"'ex' tensions `of"said "sideplates in longitudinally spa-cedrelationto said' bracing structure vand the ends ofsaid"'reinforcing` members remote from.

said stop plates.

9. Acenter isill'fill'er, comprising a pair of 'side Y plates havinginwa'rdly directed horizontal flanges extending"longitudinally' of said side plates at the top 'and bottom thereof, said bottom flangesr having"ea'cha1pair of'notches therein, andja bracing `structure."beti've'en said side plates.. com--v prsing a'- pair' vof memberseach-having a-pairv of verticaltransversely extending legs, each leg hav-l ing a portion extending from the bottom flange of one of said side plates to the top flange thereof and each seated in one of said notches, each leg being welded at its top and bottom edge to said top and bottom flange, respectively, each leg having an outer vertical edge welded to one of said side plates, and each of said members having a vertical longitudinally extending web portionconnecting said pair of legs at the inner ends thereof, said web portions being welded to each other back to back to provide a bracing structure substantially H-shaped in horizontal section between said side plates, said web portions having oppositely bowed portions therein forming a king pin socket.

10. A center sill filler comprising a pair of side plates having inwardly directed top and bottom flanges, and a bracing structure between said side plates connecting said side plates and flanges, said Side plates extending forwardly from said bracing structure and having inwardly directed vertical flanges at the forward ends thereof,

draft gear stop plates each welded to the vertical flange and to the top and bottom flanges of one of said side plates, said stop plates being carried solely by said side plates, and a U-shaped reinforcement for said stop plates welded thereto and to said side plates, substantially midway of the height thereof, said reinforcement having a pair of legs welded at one end to said stop plates extending lengthwise of said side plates and a trans-l verse portion connecting the other ends of said legs and extending between said side plates between said bracing structure and said `stop plates in longitudinally spaced relation to said bracing structure.

11. A center sill filler comprising a pair of side plates having inwardly directed top and bottom flanges, and a bracing structure between said side plates connecting said side plates and flanges,

said side plates extending forwardly from said bracing structure and having inwardly directed vertical flanges at the forward ends thereof, draft gear stop plates each welded to the vertical flange and to the top and bottom flanges of one of said side plates, said stop plates being carried solely by said side plates, a reinforcement for said stop plates comprising channel shaped leg portions of uniform cross section extending through said vertical flanges and having the forward end edges thereof welded to said stop plates and the legs thereof welded to said side plates substantially midway of the height thereof, and a transverse bracing portion connecting said leg portions of said reinforcing' members at the other ends thereof and extending between said side plates between said bracing structure and said stop plates in longitudinally spaced relation to said bracing structure.

THOMAS A. COLLISON.l

REFEREN CES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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